Thompson gets a C- grade

[Bretsky]

I agree with JH, I think this is a reasonable telling... however, I would give TT a pretty solid B.

I don't see us as a legit SB contender... but rather a 4,5,6 seed. Maybe we'll be seeded higher than that b/c the NFC seems to be down this year, but the bottom line is that we have some glaring weaknesses, and those weaknesses will show in crunch time.

Pretty much agree

But Wist........Isn't it about time you give Dom Capers some serious love

[Patler]

failing to add a quality running back after Grant got hurt has crippled the offense. Thompson refused to bid enough to get former first-round draft pick Marshawn Lynch in a trade from Buffalo. Thompson’s former understudy, Seattle GM John Schneider, did it, and the Seahawks have been happy with his contributions.

So what if the Seahawks are happy with Lynch? The question is, would the Packers be happier with Lynch than with Jackson. Hard to say, but from performances to date it would seem, "No"; but it is impossible to project what Lynch would be doing in GB compared to what he is doing in Seattle.

A comparison:

Category Jackson/Lynch
Carries: 95/87
Yards : 418/304
Average: 4.4/3.5
Longest: 71/39

Receptions: 21/4
Yards : 167/16
Average: 8.0/4.0

Blocking: very good/I don’t know!

[Patler]

I agree with JH, I think this is a reasonable telling... however, I would give TT a pretty solid B.

I don't see us as a legit SB contender... but rather a 4,5,6 seed. Maybe we'll be seeded higher than that b/c the NFC seems to be down this year, but the bottom line is that we have some glaring weaknesses, and those weaknesses will show in crunch time.

Pretty much agree

But Wist........Isn't it about time you give Dom Capers some serious love

But you don't need to be a super bowl contender, you just need to get to the playoffs, especially after losing 5 starters for the season and numerous others for 1 or more of the 8 games so far, including two key performers on offense, Grant and Finley, for the season and others key performers like Mathews and Pickett for one or more games.

Expectations have to change, especially at mid-season as the team adjusts to the changes in personnel. The goal now becomes to make the playoffs and for the team to find its new identity and be playing well two months from now.

[wist43]

I agree with JH, I think this is a reasonable telling... however, I would give TT a pretty solid B.

I don't see us as a legit SB contender... but rather a 4,5,6 seed. Maybe we'll be seeded higher than that b/c the NFC seems to be down this year, but the bottom line is that we have some glaring weaknesses, and those weaknesses will show in crunch time.

Pretty much agree

But Wist........Isn't it about time you give Dom Capers some serious love

Yeah, I've been thinking about it, lol

He's done as great job... I still don't trust him though - a leopard/spots kindofa thing. He's done a lot with the backups... maybe that's a good thing??? He has to coach and be creative b/c he's undermanned, and that produces good game plans?? I don't know... maybe if he's fully manned, he sits back and plays more vanilla??

Still, he has major challenges ahead... anybody have snap stats for Raji??? Without him, we'd be sunk.

[packerbacker1234]

Thompson deserves some criticism for his handling of the OL and for not trying to upgrade our overall talent at RB. Is it enough to give him an average grade as a GM? Of course not. The talent he brings in via the draft each year is consistently above average compared to other teams. He is easily one of the 5 best guys in the league at identifying college talent and projecting it forward to the NFL level.

The OL has been average at best for the length of Thompson's tenure. He has yet to really produce a high quality OL talent. Sitton is probably his best draft pick on the OL to date...and he's had far more duds than studs. Thompson has been very fortunate that Clifton and Tauscher have lasted this long. The lack of a strong OL is hindering this team...Rodgers keeps getting happy feet in the pocket, and the run game has never been able to establish confidence in short yardage.

To me, Thompson gets a solid B+ this season...he didn't hit any home runs, which I think are necessary to get up to that A level. However, he once again improved the roster's talent from top to bottom. Few GMs in the league do that as consistently as Thompson.

Very good post except the for one part I bolded. Rodgers having happy feet is completely on Rodgers. THe OL, this season, has given him all day to the throw the ball. This is a big reason why his massive drop off from the previous two years is baffling, because he's never had more time to throw the ball than he does this season, and Finely was out for parts of last year, and was a factor the season prior, so it's hard to just point the fnger at finely being the problem when he didn't reall have him the last 2 seasons.

[Brandon494]

C-?

He dropped the ball on getting a running back but this draft class alone should get him atleast a B rating.

[packerbacker1234]

C-?

He dropped the ball on getting a running back but this draft class alone should get him atleast a B rating.

I don't like TT as a person. I hate how he carries himself, the way he handles the media, and generally the way he talks. He sounds like an idiot when that mouth opens.

But man, he has one of the best eyes for college talent around. He is to be credited greatly for that depth at defense, along with Capers know how best to use the players he has available to still shut down teams.

c- for not replacing a key offensive weapon, or drafting a guy who could add that depth, is duely noted. Once we switched to a 3-4, the draft clearly foavred the defense and getting it what it needed. However, we have struggled without grant.

I completley forgot that our offense was 50-50 first game with Grant available. I completely underestimated MM's confidence in Grant getting the job done, and grant was having a pretty decent game pre injury. TT should get deducted points for lack of depth at such an important position on offense, but he has to given some credit for what he did for our defense.

C- is too harsh. Maybe a solid C+. A B would of required better solutions for our OL without relying old tackles playing well, and depth at RB which has also been an issue, even before grant came on in 07. Credit to him for plucking Grant and him becoming a solid starter, but a discredt that in in 3 seasons we have failed to provide decent depth behind him.

[Patler]

C-?

He dropped the ball on getting a running back but this draft class alone should get him atleast a B rating.

I don't like TT as a person. I hate how he carries himself, the way he handles the media, and generally the way he talks. He sounds like an idiot when that mouth opens.

But man, he has one of the best eyes for college talent around. He is to be credited greatly for that depth at defense, along with Capers know how best to use the players he has available to still shut down teams.

c- for not replacing a key offensive weapon, or drafting a guy who could add that depth, is duely noted. Once we switched to a 3-4, the draft clearly foavred the defense and getting it what it needed. However, we have struggled without grant.

I completley forgot that our offense was 50-50 first game with Grant available. I completely underestimated MM's confidence in Grant getting the job done, and grant was having a pretty decent game pre injury. TT should get deducted points for lack of depth at such an important position on offense, but he has to given some credit for what he did for our defense.

C- is too harsh. Maybe a solid C+. A B would of required better solutions for our OL without relying old tackles playing well, and depth at RB which has also been an issue, even before grant came on in 07. Credit to him for plucking Grant and him becoming a solid starter, but a discredt that in in 3 seasons we have failed to provide decent depth behind him.

But he did draft a guy to add to the RB depth. Unfortunately, he got hurt. Many of the so-called "experts" identified Starks as a potential sleeper who could greatly outperform his draft spot.

Actually, TT is no longer relying on the old tackles playing well, in fact one isn't even playing and hasn't for half of the games played. The other is, but at least there is now an heir-apparent for his spot. Lang is a great unknown at this point, and whether or not he can replace Tauscher long-term or not.

[Fritz]

I started that whole "How is Marshawn Lynch" thread because it seemed to me that it had become conventional wisdom that this was a major mistake on Thompson's part.

I frankly don't understand. Patler posted the side-by-side numbers, and Jackson's are better, period. And for those who would argue that's because Green Bay's offensive run blocking is better than Buffalo/Seattle's, I say only this: yeah, right. The offensive line has kept Rodgers clean but as far as run blocking? We've been complaining about the inability of Clifton and Tauscher to make the backside cut block for as long as the zone scheme has been used in Green Bay. And watch the games - what chance did Jackson have against the Vikings or Jets (or anyone) when he got the ball moving right and there were clusters of players two and three yards behind the line of scrimmage as Jackson tried to get outside?

My only real complaints with Thompson are that he hasn't found Matthews's complement yet, and that he hasn't locked up Tramon Williams and Cullen Jenkins yet. And he's still got time to get those two re-signed.

I say B+, maybe A-.

[packerbacker1234]

I started that whole "How is Marshawn Lynch" thread because it seemed to me that it had become conventional wisdom that this was a major mistake on Thompson's part.

I frankly don't understand. Patler posted the side-by-side numbers, and Jackson's are better, period. And for those who would argue that's because Green Bay's offensive run blocking is better than Buffalo/Seattle's, I say only this: yeah, right. The offensive line has kept Rodgers clean but as far as run blocking? We've been complaining about the inability of Clifton and Tauscher to make the backside cut block for as long as the zone scheme has been used in Green Bay. And watch the games - what chance did Jackson have against the Vikings or Jets (or anyone) when he got the ball moving right and there were clusters of players two and three yards behind the line of scrimmage as Jackson tried to get outside?

My only real complaints with Thompson are that he hasn't found Matthews's complement yet, and that he hasn't locked up Tramon Williams and Cullen Jenkins yet. And he's still got time to get those two re-signed.

I say B+, maybe A-.

As was pointed out in a recent article, Jackson's numbers are skewed. He has the one long run, an da meaningless 27 yarder before half when we were running the clock out. Outside of those two runs, Jackson is averging a pretty pedestrian number on his carries. He has looked good at times, which I think most of that is credited to catching the defense off guard, more than him being good.

[3irty1]

Also take into account that a former Thompson mid round draft pick, Desmond Bishop, is breaking out. Also Pat Lee has made good contributions and has played corner and returned kicks as well as anyone else on the team. Peprah is also impressing with his opportunities. There is depth on the team that we didn't even know we had.

I also didn't hear anyone mention the contributions of CJ Wilson which are already significant and look to increase even more. When you find this many guys to contribute to a playoff team in and after the draft, you've got a great GM. I'd give him a B+ at least.

[Pugger]

Quarterbacks: C+
Running backs: D+
Receivers: C+
Tight ends: C.
Offensive line: C+
Defensive line: C+
Linebackers: B+
Defensive backs: B
Special teams: C+
Coaching: B-
Personnel moves: C-

Spot on analysis. They really hit the nail on the head and have identified the reasons this team is tanking and is already out of the playoff hunt half way through the season. All those average grades identify why the team has been embarrassed when facing the better teams in the league and has just barely gotten by the poor teams.

Clearly TT deserves his lowest grade on the team. He has allowed injuries to ruin the season. The team has no depth, and once the top-line players are lost, no one steps up.



OK, turning off my sarcasm button for a minute, this is just absurd. The lowest grade goes to TT and his personnel moves because he didn't trade for Marshawn Lynch? Are you kidding me? The team has lost:
2 offensive starters out for the season
1 offensive starter out for half the games played so far.
1 offensive starter essentially out for the last two games, and out the next
3 defensive starters out for the season.
3 defensive first line backups out for the season.
1 defensive starter essentially out for 3 games.
2 defensive starters from last year not yet back from the PUP list.
The nickel corner missing two games.

That's 14 key players who have missed how many games of the 8 played so far?

Through all of that the team has a 5-3 record, beats the Vikings and Jets, loses two in overtime that could have been won, and TT gets the lowest grade given, a C- for his personnel moves, because he didn't pull off a trade for Marshawn Lynch? You could say he effectively replaced 13 of the 14 players, but gets a C- because he didn't trade for Lynch?

+1

The Press-Gazette just got Patlerized!!!

[cheesner]

Also take into account that a former Thompson mid round draft pick, Desmond Bishop, is breaking out. Also Pat Lee has made good contributions and has played corner and returned kicks as well as anyone else on the team. Peprah is also impressing with his opportunities. There is depth on the team that we didn't even know we had.

I also didn't hear anyone mention the contributions of CJ Wilson which are already significant and look to increase even more. When you find this many guys to contribute to a playoff team in and after the draft, you've got a great GM. I'd give him a B+ at least.

TT got lucky when Bishop, Lee, and Wilson dropped to him.

The fact of the matter is TT still hasn't gotten any depth behind our starting Long Snapper.

I give TT a solid 'D-'.

[pbmax]

the jes were very aggressive in the offseasn. they had 21 of 22 starters healthy. they were off a bye week. they were at home. which gm won the game again??

Pretty seleictive reasoning that can go the other way

The Bears were aggressive in free agency when both squads were relative healthy; which gm won that game ?

And I'm not arguing the Bears have anything special at GM

Better question: Who's roster would you take?

[Bretsky]

the jes were very aggressive in the offseasn. they had 21 of 22 starters healthy. they were off a bye week. they were at home. which gm won the game again??

Pretty seleictive reasoning that can go the other way

The Bears were aggressive in free agency when both squads were relative healthy; which gm won that game ?

And I'm not arguing the Bears have anything special at GM

Better question: Who's roster would you take?

Right now ?

The Jets